Hybrid vessel order boost for Scottish shipbuilding, salmon farming

Operating with a crew of six, the new vessel will expand Inverlussa Marine Services’ modern, purpose-built fleet to 23.

Construction work is expected to commence shortly, with plans for it to be operational by the third-quarter of 2025, supporting salmon farms off the west coast, as well as in Shetland and Orkney.

“This is a state-of-the-art vessel from a Scottish shipyard with a first-class track record of building quality vessel for the aquaculture sector. As well as providing a much-needed boost to the Scottish shipbuilding industry, the addition of this vessel to our fleet will provide even greater capacity to our thriving Scottish salmon sector and provide increased capacity and capability in supporting salmon farming operations to operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible,” Inverlussa Marine Services Managing Director Ben Wilson said.

The vessel will be equipped with upgraded crane capacities and deck equipment, including larger towing and heavy-duty winches designed to lift and tow heavy objects such as feed barges. This specialised equipment will enhance the firm’s salmon farm mooring, grid handling capabilities and net lifting capacity reflecting the increasing size of aquaculture equipment and maximising the safety and capability of its vessels and crew.

Intended to service larger sites operating in deeper, more exposed, and remote offshore locations, the vessel’s design emphasises advanced seakeeping capabilities to provide a stable platform in rough seas. It will also feature five ensuite cabins with a significant focus on noise reduction especially when conducting 24-hour operations to enhance crew comfort and living conditions aboard.

In additional to having a hybrid battery pack, the engines will meet the International Maritime Organization’s strict Tier 3 emissions standards, achieving an 80% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to Tier 2, to significantly curb greenhouse gases.
Although not mandatory, the company has opted for Tier 3 compliance and hybrid to enhance the vessel’s eco-friendly credentials.

The contract is expected to create an additional six jobs within the company, bringing the total number of employees to 140, underscoring the vital role of salmon farming in boosting livelihoods in coastal communities.

MacDuff Shipyards has a track record of designing and fabricating vessels for aquaculture and fishing from its shipyard in Macduff and Buckie, Moray.

“We are very grateful that Inverlussa Marine Services have placed their trust in the company once again to build and deliver this advanced vessel.Inverlussa was one of the first companies in the aquaculture sector which the shipyard worked with and they have helped our business to expand and grow into this thriving industry,” MacDuff Shipyards Managing Director John Watt said.

“The new vessel is to be built at the shipyards Buckie facility which the company acquired in 2013. Since then, we have invested heavily in the site, renewing and upgrading the slipping facilities and sheds, as well as recruiting staff and training new apprentices. In recent years the company has been very busy, in both Macduff and Buckie, servicing and maintaining many of the Scottish aquaculture vessels and barges.”

Watt added: “The vessel design has been very carefully considered and we have redesigned the propulsion package to provide maximum efficiency, ensuring that the vessel is as energy efficient as possible.”

Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who witnessed the contract signing at Macduff Harbour, welcomed the announcement.

“Inverlussa’s latest vessel will bring more high-quality jobs to Scotland while harnessing green technologies to support our net-zero ambitions. It is crucial that we continue to embrace innovation in aquaculture practices so that the sector can become resilient to the pressing challenges posed by climate change,” she said.

“The Scottish Government’s ‘Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture’ sets out our aspirations for a thriving and innovative sector. The deployment of new hybrid technologies is a great example of how innovation can contribute to the sustainable development of Scottish aquaculture.”

Commenting on the contract, Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said: “Inverlussa and Macduff are leaders in the Scottish shipping industry and shining examples of the more than 3,600 supply chain businesses that make an essential contribution to the Scottish salmon sector.These two Scottish family-owned businesses are at the heart of Scotland’s salmon sector.

“The significant investment in new vessels with a greener footprint will enable our farmers to operate even more sustainably, regardless of the weather, and generate highly paid, highly skilled jobs, and prosperity in our rural and coastal communities. This is a real demonstration of the importance of salmon to Scotland’s economy – when we grow salmon, we grow our economy.”

Scottish salmon is the UK’s leading food export, while the industry supports 12,500 jobs in Scotland and generates GBP 760 million for the local economy.